ErikStenger
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During the 1950s, the BMW company had quite an unbalanced model range. On one hand, there were the high profile luxury cars, powered by the famous alloy V8, while the company got most of its revenues out of selling the Isetta bubblecar, based on a design taken over from the Italian Iso company.
BMW's 700 RS raced with an overhead-cam version of the German company's opposed-twin motorcycle engine. One of the other main activities was building and selling motorcycles. It was the single cylinder engine of the 250cc motorcycle that was used to power the Isetta. Apart from that, the motorcycles were propelled by a two-cylinder air cooled boxer engine, originally available as a 500cc but with room to grow in displacement.
This two-cylinder engine, enlarged to 600cc, first saw automotive use in the BMW 600 introduced in 1957. This was basically an Isetta, widened at the rear to accommodate a bench for two people and a side door on the right hand side. The front opening door of the Isetta was maintained. The engine produced 19.5 bhp, and the car could reach just over 60 mph. In spite of its qualities, the 600 did not become the success BMW had hoped for. By November 1959 and after a production of just under 35,000 units, the plug was pulled.
The tiny racer's aluminum body was formed over a tube-frame chassis. In the meantime, thinking had gone further and in early 1957, a full four-passenger car with normal proportions was being prepared. Shortly after, Giovanni Michelotti received an order to produce a prototype, which was duly presented in July 1958. The pleasing lines of the car convinced the board to proceed, and by mid-1959 the car went into production.
It featured a 700cc version of the boxer engine located behind the rear axle. Developing 32 bhp, it had a significantly better specific output than the 600. Interestingly, the first body version that was offered was a 2+2 coupe, while the sedan version with a slightly extended roof and more headroom for the rear seats came several months later.
The boxer engine already had sufficient motorsport pedigree. It was not only used in bike racing but also dominated the sidecar category for a very long period. Not surprisingly, by mid-1960 a twin-carb, 40 bhp version of the 700 Coupe was offered, dubbed the 700 CS. This car formed the basis for BMW's first appearance in international racing since WWII. In competition guise, the engine could easily be tuned to produce more than 60 bhp.
The 700 CS became a familiar sight in the European Touring car races. Together with the sedan, it generated enough cash flow for BMW to develop the 1500, the first modern BMW. The company's current models can still trace their roots to the 1500, which was first shown in prototype form in 1961. The 700 remained in production until September 1965, and more than 188,000 cars of all models were completed.
The motorsport career of the 697cc boxer engine continued well into the 1960s. In early 1961, BMW developed a very special version of the engine with two kingpin-driven overhead cams per cylinder and producing more than 70 bhp. Its fuel mixture came from two 36mm Dell'Orto carburetors. The engine was put into a tubular-frame chassis, this time in front of the rear axle. An all-alloy body completed the package.
The bespoke racing car was dubbed the 700 RS and was specially designed for the popular hill-climb races. From its debut in June 1961 through 1963, the lightweight BMW dominated its class. Some sources say as many as 19 were produced but BMW states that only two were ever built. The company still owns one of the cars and we are aware of another car in Florida.
BMW's 700 RS raced with an overhead-cam version of the German company's opposed-twin motorcycle engine. One of the other main activities was building and selling motorcycles. It was the single cylinder engine of the 250cc motorcycle that was used to power the Isetta. Apart from that, the motorcycles were propelled by a two-cylinder air cooled boxer engine, originally available as a 500cc but with room to grow in displacement.
This two-cylinder engine, enlarged to 600cc, first saw automotive use in the BMW 600 introduced in 1957. This was basically an Isetta, widened at the rear to accommodate a bench for two people and a side door on the right hand side. The front opening door of the Isetta was maintained. The engine produced 19.5 bhp, and the car could reach just over 60 mph. In spite of its qualities, the 600 did not become the success BMW had hoped for. By November 1959 and after a production of just under 35,000 units, the plug was pulled.
The tiny racer's aluminum body was formed over a tube-frame chassis. In the meantime, thinking had gone further and in early 1957, a full four-passenger car with normal proportions was being prepared. Shortly after, Giovanni Michelotti received an order to produce a prototype, which was duly presented in July 1958. The pleasing lines of the car convinced the board to proceed, and by mid-1959 the car went into production.
It featured a 700cc version of the boxer engine located behind the rear axle. Developing 32 bhp, it had a significantly better specific output than the 600. Interestingly, the first body version that was offered was a 2+2 coupe, while the sedan version with a slightly extended roof and more headroom for the rear seats came several months later.
The boxer engine already had sufficient motorsport pedigree. It was not only used in bike racing but also dominated the sidecar category for a very long period. Not surprisingly, by mid-1960 a twin-carb, 40 bhp version of the 700 Coupe was offered, dubbed the 700 CS. This car formed the basis for BMW's first appearance in international racing since WWII. In competition guise, the engine could easily be tuned to produce more than 60 bhp.
The 700 CS became a familiar sight in the European Touring car races. Together with the sedan, it generated enough cash flow for BMW to develop the 1500, the first modern BMW. The company's current models can still trace their roots to the 1500, which was first shown in prototype form in 1961. The 700 remained in production until September 1965, and more than 188,000 cars of all models were completed.
The motorsport career of the 697cc boxer engine continued well into the 1960s. In early 1961, BMW developed a very special version of the engine with two kingpin-driven overhead cams per cylinder and producing more than 70 bhp. Its fuel mixture came from two 36mm Dell'Orto carburetors. The engine was put into a tubular-frame chassis, this time in front of the rear axle. An all-alloy body completed the package.
The bespoke racing car was dubbed the 700 RS and was specially designed for the popular hill-climb races. From its debut in June 1961 through 1963, the lightweight BMW dominated its class. Some sources say as many as 19 were produced but BMW states that only two were ever built. The company still owns one of the cars and we are aware of another car in Florida.
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